Women were built differently back then…
It was nearly bedtime when it finally happened. Avó’s water broke, and she went into labour. No provisions were set in place. They scrambled to coordinate a master plan. The most accessible hospital was fifteen minutes away on foot; the children proposed a taxicab, but she opted not to call.
“Your father would kill me.”
“How about we ask Mr. Machado upstairs?” Robert proposed.
“No, let’s not bother the man so late.”
Alternatively, she left Juliette in charge while making an exit. Going off on her own without the support of anyone, she walked eastbound across Dundas Street West until north on University Avenue. She placed a knit blanket over her head for protection against the cold breeze. The elements rattled her willpower, but that was nothing compared to how she felt. Contractions hammered on as she got closer with each step, but she endured the stabbing pain.
This is Deus’ will. They have a plan for you.
Upon entry, she was swiftly admitted to the Birthing Unit at Toronto General Hospital, sweeping past the Nursing Station on a wheelchair. The staff were listening to votes being tallied on the radio. Nixon was starting to close the gap on Kennedy as polling stations closed in the Midwest, making for a tight race. She was brought down a long corridor into a delivery room and placed on a high bed.
This is destiny.
Then an English-speaking doctor entered with a matron. Their medical attire looked terrifying, like something from a scary movie. With the hindering language barrier, almost everything was misunderstood. Their communication relied heavily on visual cues. Avó squared off in the face of dire straits with the esteem of a champion. The ensuing procedure was traumatic, unlike anything she had experienced before, but it was better organized than previous deliveries. Unfavourable as it was, she had to get on with it. Later that night, she gave birth to a son.
I love you more than you will ever know.
This was an excerpt from The Portuguese Immigrant: Atlantic Heritage Story. To read the full story, you may get a copy on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.ca/Portuguese-Immigrant-Atlantic-Heritage-Story-ebook/dp/B09NGZJX82/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1676216296&sr=8-1
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